Girl, 11, died of 'medical negligence' after contracting meningitis, inquest finds
| Published date | 17 August 2021 |
However a hearing into her death was told theyoungsterhad to wait in hospital for six-and-a-half hours before antibiotics were administered.
Sepsis tests were not correctly completed, meaning she wasn't transferred to specialist paediatric care, the inquest was told.
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An NHS report also found 11 problems in her care, including delay in administering drugs.
A Coroner concluded neglect contributed to the death of the academically gifted and sporty girl.
Herparentsand their legal team are now calling for lessons to be learned after the inquest concluded.
Tracey Shephard, 49, and David Luffingham, 54, took Annalise to Croydon University Hospital's children's A&E after becoming concerned she had been suffering with a headache and eye pain for a week as well as dizziness and vomiting, confusion and a high temperature.
The inquest at Croydon Coroner's Court heard staff incorrectly completed a screening tool to assess Annalise, known as Annie, for sepsis - a condition which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.
Because of the failure, a specialist sepsis protocol was not instigated, resulting in Annie not receiving appropriate treatment.
After an initial review, Annie, from Addiscombe, Croydon, was referred to A&E's medical team.
However, if the tests had been completed correctly, she should have been referred to a specialist paediatric team and should have started receiving intravenous antibiotics within an hour, the inquest heard.
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During the course of the inquest, a medical entry concerning Annie's care was amended months after the event by the consultant in charge of her treatment when the matter was being investigated by the Trust.
The Royal Russell school pupil, who also had an increased respiratory rate, was not reviewed by a paediatric consultant until three hours after arriving in hospital.
Following further examinations, Annie was given ibuprofen and paracetamol but intravenous antibiotics were only prescribed and administered six-and-a-half hours after she arrived at hospital.
The inquest heard that staff also failed to note and act upon Annie's deterioration during this time.
Just over an hour later Annie suffered a cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated and transferred to another hospital but tragically died...
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